Vehicle-propelling device.



ALBIN J'. ERICKSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICEPROPELLING nEvIcn.

memsoe.

Speeificaton of Letters Patent...

Patented an. 111,11916.

Application filed June. 30, 1915. Serial No. 37,164.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that'I, ALBIN J. Emckson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the cpunty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Propelling Devices, of which the following is a specification. o

My invention relates to `vehicle propelling devices, for use with self driven vehicles and especially with automobilc trucks, agricultural traction Vehicles or engines, and other such structures, and has more particular reference to a device 'which has longitudinal movement in reference to the vehicle, the attached end of which moves along a longitudinally extending guide-way, carried by the vehicle Chassis or body.

Some of the objects of my invention are to simplify and. improve the construction of devices of this type, whereby to en-. hance their eificiency land increase their usefulness. To provide' means whereby the propelling device may be easily turned upon its horizontal bearing to change the direction of progress of the vehicle.

Other and further objects of my invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled'in the art from a consideration of 'the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one member of my improved 'propelling device, of which there must be at least two for each vehicle,

broken away, showing parts in section. F ig. 2 is a transverse sectionv taken on line 2-2 of F ig.`1. F ig. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of the upper end of one of .the legs.. o

In all the views the same reference characters are employed to indicate similar parts. i f

In carrying my invention into effect' I may usel any form of chassis, or vehicle body, and attach thereto a frame or casing 10, consisting of spaced apart plates or side members 11 and 12, each provided with hollow top and bottom and end channels 13` and 14. 'The plates 11 and 12l areY held in place by spacing bolts 15 and sleeves 16.

A drive shaft 17, which may be connected to any means for propelling the' vehicle, passes through bearings 18 and 19, provided in vthe platcs and through a sprocketdrive wheel 20, secured thereto, as by a key 21. Plate 12 which is theinside plate, is pro- 'suitable length, each 31v on its free projecting end and ,carrying 'J vided with projecting brackets 21 and 22 for swivel engagement with an axle 23, and

.the drive shaft section 17 is connected to'a drive shaft section 24,- whieh latter has bearlngs in the axle 23, by means of4 a universal joint 25, so that the traction device may be swiveled in any direction, for the purpose of changing the direction of progress o f the vehicle, upon the bearings provided by the bolts 26-26. Another ,shaft 27 passes through the casing, provided by the plates 11 and 12, at the 'other .end of'the casing, and carries a sprocket wheel 28, around which passes a drive chain 29, which also passes around the drive sproeket, wheel 20.

Secured to the Chain, at suitable intervals, are a series of legs 30,' which may be of any provided with' a foot four laterally projecting rollers 32, which track within the Channels 13 and 14 providedin the respective plates. Each of the legs is provided with projecting ears 33 for engagement With the chain 29, having slotted perforations .34' therein to receive a 4 bolt,`or pin 35, which passes through the chain, to secure the legs theret'o.

w Projecting inwardly from the p1ate'12 are ears 34-34 by means of whichl a r0d.36 connects ,the inner plates of opposite tractors together.

Assume that -the device, shown in Fig; 1,

istraveling from the right to the left, the' leg in the Vertical plane is abo-ut tov leave contact with the roadway and the one immediately in front is about to make contact therewith The arrangement is such that the leg approaching the roadway wi'll make contact therewith about the time or before the leg leaving it Will have been raised up, by means of the chain 29, out of contact With the roadway, so` that when it becomes' necessary to turn the vehicle, each' of the traction devices Will always be standing substantial'ly upon .one leg ;and therefore will 'be easily and quickly turned. Any'number of legs 30, may be employed, however, and may be of any suitable length desired. After a leg has left contact with the'earth and another leg has made cogntact therewith, the

former leg is returned to the upper channel by means of cha-in 29 and moved forwrdly to again engagethe roadway in its proper order. My device does not depend So much upon rotary traction with the roadway, as the vehicle is moved forward While the leg is passing' through the straight portion ot the. channel contained in the casingx The leg: after once touching' the roadwa)Y remains practicallv stationarv while the vehicle moves forward and after it has'nioved forward until the le;r has reaehed a point where it is about to leave the roadway another leg' is moved in itsl place and the vehicle' is then moved Vl'orward with respect to that leg and so on durinr the progress of the vehicle.

laving described my invention, what elaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the ["nited States is:--

1. ln a device ot the character described, a casing having opposite. continuous channels in each ot' its side walls; a series of lefJs having ends projecting between the Side walls` rollers carried on each side of the legs and projecting into said channels; a Chain in said casing to which said leejs are attached and means to drive the chain.

2. in a device ot' the eharacter described,

a casineF havingr opposite upper and lower continuous channels in each otI its side walls; a series otI intermediate legs arranged between said walls and having' rollers projectin;r laterally into said Channels: a ehain in said ('asing, to which said leg's are attached at unit'ol'm intervals; a power shat't section extending into said casing'; a sprocket wheel carried by said shatt to drive the chain; another sln'ocket wheel in the rear ot` the casinr over which said chain passes, and connecting means at the rear ot' the casing for connection with a similar drivinggr device on the opposite sideof a vehicle.

'3. n a device of the eharacter described, the combination of two oppositely disposed, spaced apart plates, having opposite upper and lower channels and curved connecting' channels at their ends; a driving chain within saidv lcasing; a driving sprocket wheel within the casing=` over which the chain passes; another sprocltet wheel in the rear of the casing; a shat't section for driving the 'front sprecket wheel; a fixed axle to which the. device is swiveled; a drive shat't carried by the axle; a universal joint connecting said sha't't seetions and leg's connected at unit'orm intervals to the ('hain and having` rollers on each side projecting laterally into said channels.

4. In a device ot' the Character de:'-:ei'iled, a easine' having opposite, continuous channells in each ot' its side walls.v a series of legs having their inner ends guidedly supported within said channels, a chain in said casing to which said legs are attaehedy means tor pivotally monntingr the casing en a vertical axis, the number ot' the lers being' such that one comes in contact with the gre-und as another is about to leave the ground.

lntestimonj,Y whereotl hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBN J. ERCKSON. In the presence of- S'i'a x mar \V. Coon, lfmufui BMX. 

